The first opportunity for parents to choose their childrens' schools is coming to an end.

If families would like to send their children to a school outside their assigned attendance boundary, Albuquerque Public Schools will accept applications for lottery selection until Saturday, March 15.

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Toby Herrera, who works for APS, told Action 7 News there are a number of reasons people opt to choose their school rather than use the closest facility. He said when it comes to choosing elementary schools, some parents send students to facilities that are closer to other relatives' homes or day cares because that's where the child goes before or after classes. When students get to middle school, the desire to go to a certain school becomes based on program options.

"Maybe they want to play for a specific coach or in a certain band," Herrera explained.

Regardless of the reason, more than 3,000 students have already applied for new schools since Feb. 1. Herrera said that is about average.

"It's a lot, but standard," he went on.

Some of the most popular schools to choose are Sandia High School, Jefferson Middle School, Eisenhower and Bel-air Elementary. Herrera said at some of these facilities, if families do not apply by March 15, they won't have a chance of getting in.

The district will accept students' choices will not be based on first-come, first-served. Those who live close to the facility will be priority, then APS will consider those students trying to transfer out of "F" state-graded schools. Administrators will also think about where the student's siblings go, whether or not they're part of a military family and whether or not their mother or father is an APS staff member.

Officials still need to do site evaluations and study projected enrollment numbers, but say they will respond to applications in May 2014.

Administrators confirmed as well that they are trying to keep their students in the public school system. There has been somewhat of a declining enrollment recently when it comes to 5th and 6th graders. For that reason, APS plans to create a new program and show more effort to retain more students.